State's first three flu cases reported in Quay County

The state's Department of Health announced last week the first cases of influenza in New Mexico for the 2018-2019 season were reported. All three were in Quay County.

The agency reported the flu cases — conformed by a laboratory — were in children ages 13, 11 and 8 who reside in the county and reported no out-of-state travel.

David Morgan, public information officer for the agency, stated by email he could not be more specific on where the flu-afflicted children lived in Quay County.

“We encourage New Mexicans to get their seasonal flu vaccination — the sooner the better,” said Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Lynn Gallagher stated in a news release. “The exact timing and duration of flu season changes year-to-year, but flu activity often begins to heighten in October.”

The Department of Health recommends everyone six months of age and older get the flu shot each year, especially people in these high-risk groups:

• Children younger than 5, but especially those younger than 2

• Pregnant women and women up to two weeks post-partum

• People 65 and older

• People of any age with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, lung or heart disease, and those whose immune systems are compromised

• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities

• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including health-care personnel and caregivers of babies younger than six months

• American Indians and Alaskan Natives

• People who are morbidly obese

If people in these at-risk groups develop flu symptoms, they should consider seeing a health-care provider as early as possible to be evaluated for antiviral medication. The sooner these medications are begun, the better the chance of preventing complications.